Hoyt named head football coach

Mar 05, 2012

WESTMINSTER, Md. – Mike Hoyt has been named McDaniel College's head football coach, announced by Director of Athletics Paul Moyer on Monday.

"The quality of the pool of candidates we waded through was among the best I have ever seen in any search I have conducted and Mike rose to the top of our list," Moyer said. "Throughout our national search, we found that he is someone who embodies everything we wanted in our next head football coach. As an educator, an outstanding coach and an individual who has been involved in Division III for most of his career, he understands the importance of student being first in student-athlete. I know he will be able to take our program back to a higher level and compete for championships in the tradition that is Green Terror football."

Hoyt, the 24th head coach in the storied 117-year history of Green Terror football, takes over after spending the last eight seasons as the defensive coordinator at Albright College, culminating with being a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2011.

"With Paul Moyer's leadership, Mike Hoyt's appointment and the new Kenneth Gill stadium, we are poised to write a new victorious chapter in our 117-year tradition of Green Terror football," said Dr. Roger Casey, McDaniel president.

As the associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Lions, Hoyt supervised the defensive staff, managed the defensive unit and coached the defensive back group. He was also responsible for a number of administrative duties, including serving as the liaison with the enrollment staff and sports medicine as well as managing the director of the alumni golf outing and summer team camps.

"I am extremely excited and flattered with the opportunity McDaniel has provided for me as the head football coach," Hoyt said. "McDaniel has a great academic reputation, outstanding facilities and a great football tradition but the greatest resource at McDaniel is the people. Everyone I have met at McDaniel from players to the administration and alumni has been outstanding. I am looking forward to working hand-in-hand with them to bring the Green Terror back to the football power it once was. My mission as a football coach has always been to help young men develop so that they may become men of character. I believe McDaniel College is a great place to do that."

In his first season with the team, his rush defense went from allowing an average of 235.4 yards per game to 175.1 yards per contest, helping to guide Albright to an ECAC South Atlantic championship.

His tenure has been marked specifically by stout run defense, ranking in the top half of the Middle Atlantic Conference in rush defense, total defense and scoring defense in four of the last five seasons. His 2008 defense led the conference and ranked 33rd nationally, allowing just 16.9 points per games and appeared in the ECAC South Central Bowl.

The 2009 Lions advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals with a defense that was in the top in Division III against the pass and in total defense, allowing an average of 323.1 yards over the 13-game schedule.

At Albright, Hoyt has most recently been responsible for recruiting Central Pennsylvania as well as a number of counties in Maryland, including Carroll and Frederick Counties. He also has experience recruiting regions where McDaniel has typically attracted many of its students and a strong knowledge of the Centennial Conference, having served as an assistant at Franklin & Marshall.

Prior to his arrival in Reading, Hoyt spent four seasons with the Diplomats, coaching various positions. He spent the 1998 season coaching the running backs before departing to return to the high school ranks for two years.

Hoyt spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons as the head football coach at Solanco High School, where he served as a physical education teacher from 1997-2004.

He returned to the Franklin & Marshall staff for the 2001 campaign, coaching the linebackers in 2001 and 2002 before taking over the defensive backs in 2003.

Hoyt also has experience coaching at higher levels including at Division II Millersville and his alma mater, Division I Canisius College, where he also assisted with the strength and conditioning program.

Hoyt earned his bachelor of science in physical education from Canisius College in 1992. He is a certified physical education teacher in New York and Pennsylvania and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Hoyt received his master of science in physical education from Canisius in 1997.

He has taught courses in fitness, health and wellness, sport activities and strength and conditioning. He has also participated in curriculum writing and development teams over his tenure as an instructor in physical education.

Hoyt and his wife Katrina have three daughters, Britny, LiErin and McKenna.

Hoyt assumes the duties of his new position on Mar. 19, in time to close out the recruiting class and oversee spring practices.